INDIAN AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1931, Page 6

INDIAN AFFAIRS.

BRITISH PROPOPSALS. AT LONDON CONFERENCE. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) RUGBY, September 14., The India Round Table Coruerence to-day resumed with a meeting of the Federal Structure Committee. It is anticipated that the committee will conclude its general discussion to-mor-row, when Messrs Gandhi and Madaviya are expected to speak, and will afterwards begin to study details which have been tabulated by Lord Sankey, under the following four heads : p Firstly: Strength and composition of the Federal Legislature, including the proportions in each Chamber to be assigned to the States and to British India respectively. Secondly: Direct and indirect methods of election.

Thirdly: Relations between the two Chambers.

Fourthly: Distribution of financial resources between the Federation and its units.

Public interest in to-day’s meeting of the Federal Structure Committee whose task is to draft the new Indian Constitution, was considerably enhanced by the presence, for the first time of Gandhi. Monday is a day ot the week when Gandhi maintains complete silence, save when a duty in view makes speech imperative. He listened attentively to the proceedings but .took-no part in them, although occasionally he wrote a brief question, handed it to the Chairman, Lord Sankey, who wrote the answer, and handed it back.

Lord Sankey said he was convinced that with patience and goodwill, such as has been displayed during the earlier work of the Committee, a settlement would be reached. He did not anticipate anything in th e nature of an ultimatum from any quarter, but he would remind the committee that the ultimatum should come, it at all at the end and not at the bebinning of negotiations. Sir M. Dadabhoy, a great Indian industrialist, laid great emphasis on the necessity of upholding safeguards. He described the intimate connection between Britain and Indian finance. The financial safeguards, he said, were necessary to, and in the interests of, both countries. India, as a, whole would not countenance any proposal which had the effect, even to the smallest extent, of repudiating India’s debt. Regarding the Hindu-Moslem communal issue ho was confident that the communities would themselves settle the' problem, which must not he allowed to stand in the way of reforms or the constitution. If the present opportunity were allowed to slip, he did not think there would he another so good for 50 years. Failing a settlement by the community, he hoped the British Parliament, or Government, would, il necessary act as arbitrator.

INDIA'S PROBLEMS. VICEROY’S REFERENCES. , (Received this day at 9.25 a.m) DELHI, September 15. India’s outstanding problems were referred to by the Viceroy, addressing the Legislative Assembly for the first time. The most important part of the speech was the disclosure that the Government is shortly embarking on far reaching proposals of drastic retrenchment. If the response is adequate, India will emerge successfully as her economic position is fundamentally sound. Lord Willingdon deplored the recent anarchist outrage which showed that immature youths had been exploited j 1 ,J .y revolutionary leaders to carry out I murderous designs. He appealed for I a little more of the spirit new animat- • ing the Round Table Conference. j I-• - • I